Posted By On February 27, 2011 @ 11:06 am In Hockey,New York Rangers,NHL | 35 Comments

Will have quotes shortly …

but here’s the news. McCabe will play with Eminger and wear No. 28, and play on the power play. Duh.

Fedotenko is out, so Newbury will play.

Del Zotto is still here, even though the Rangers made a paper transaction to send him to the Whale yesterday. It could be for a roster spot, as Tortorella claimed. It could also be that a defenseman might be departing tomorrow. Or it could be nothing. But when Marc Staal returns, the Rangers will have eight, and there’s no way they’re keeping eight around and Del Zotto sitting and not playing.

Lundqvist in goal again.

Back in a bit.

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In the meantime, I wrote for The Journal News and LoHud.com today on Bernie Ryan … whom you may not know, but you’ve certainly seen. He’s the guy who has been manning the Rangers penalty box since the 1980s.

“It was a long day yesterday, but I I’m very excited today. Original Six team, man, what else can you say? I’m excited.”

On whether this was the only place he was willing to go (he had a no-trade clause):

“I think so. Obviously I have a lot of roots here. We spend our summers here on Long Island, my wife’s born and raised here, so it’s pretty much home. Like I said to some other people yesterday, three years ago when I was on my way out of Toronto, this is one of the teams I really wanted to come to. Things didn’t work out, but I’m glad they did now. I’m really excited to be here.”

“Obviously there’s always an atmosphere, a buzz. It’s one of the best buildings in the world. So it’s been a lot of fun (to play here as a visitor). Obviously we have a good team here, a great goaltender. I just hope to bring some veteran presence and leadership. Obviously they have a young team so hopefully I can help out with that.”

On what Tortorella said about his role”

“I spoke briefly to him. I think just coming in and bringing leadership, like I said. Obviously I’ve been around a long time and we have a pretty young D back there, so it’s good to try and bring in some experience.”

Beyond this season?

“I’m just here to play it out and have fun and hopefully make a run in the playoffs and chase a Cup. Obviously I’m getting down to the dog years here, so hopefully it’s a long run.”

On the Rangers:

“They are a great young team, obviously have a great goaltender. What else can you say? They work hard. Torts is a demanding coach and expects a lot out of them and that’s a good thing.”

He said the only players on the team he knows are Eminger, who was a teammate briefly in Florida, and Newbury, who was a teammate in Toronto.